Cincinnati Reds Damage Control: Giants Take Their Heart in San Fran

Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco. I hope the Cincinnati Reds have not left their confidence there.

Regardless of today’s outcome, the San Francisco Giants have shown some serious flaws in the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff.

In two games they have been outscored by the Giants 27-7 and have given up 35 hits in the 16 innings the Giants have batted.

In the first game of the series, Edinson Volquez did not get out of the first inning. He was pasted for five hits, five runs, and issued three free passes in only 2/3 of an inning.

Last night, one of the best pitchers on the staff was given a similar inhospitable greeting, as he allowed the Giants to put up a three spot in the first frame. Rookie southpaw Travis Wood managed to stay around for four innings after giving up seven runs and seven hits.

Two of the Reds’ starters who have been relegated to the bullpen didn’t do any better.

Mike Leake pitched one inning and gave up six runs, six hits and and two home runs, looking nothing like the ROY candidate he had been earlier in the season. It was his second terrible outing from the bullpen, making me wonder if he is going to work out in that role.

Fellow rookie Sam LeCure—who was just brought up from Louisville to fill the spot vacated by Jordan Smith’s departure—pitched the final three innings giving up five hits, three runs, including a homer.

Of the seven hurlers trotted out by the Reds in two games, only left-hander Bill Bray pitched scoreless ball.

If anyone wondered about the Giants being dead after losing a series to the St. Louis Cardinals, rest assured they are alive and well.

Brandon Phillips was 3-5 with two dingers as one of the few silver linings to the black cloud over their collective heads. Drew Stubbs added two hits and Scott Rolen hit his 19th HR in the losing cause.

Rookie infielder Chris Valaika singled in his first MLB at bat after being called up from Louisville the same day.

The health of the Reds also took a hit as outfielder Laynce Nix twisted an ankle while running the bases, and Jim Edmonds had to go on the DL due to a strained oblique.

The Cardinals and ace Adam Wainwright were beaten by the forlorn Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3, leaving a 2.5 game gap between them and the division leading Reds.

Homer Bailey (3-2), impressive in his two starts since returning from the DL, will pitch in the final game of the series Wednesday afternoon. He will be facing southpaw Madison Bumgarner (5-4).